Update:Criminal contempt charges against Arturo Montenora in the July 18 incident were dropped in 2012.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Castleton Corners man embroiled in a legal battle over a $40,000 engagement ring couldn’t stay away from his former fiancée’s home, despite a judge’s order barring him from contacting her, police allege.

Police say Arturo Montenora, 43, of the 400 block of Fanning Street, drove up to the woman’s Huguenot home at about 9:50 p.m. on July 8, then stopped in front of it. Her name is being withheld due to the pending criminal case against Montenora.

Montenora was arrested Monday, marking the latest chapter in a legal saga that began January 2010, just a few days after he presented the woman with an engagement ring he valued in court papers at nearly $40,000.

On Jan. 7, 2010, authorities allege, he punched his fiancée in the eye and broke her shoulder as they argued over a posting on his Facebook page.

The woman countered with a lawsuit of her own, seeking damages for injuries she sustained in the alleged assault, as well as compensation for defamatory statements he purportedly made afterward. Her lawyer has claimed Montenora actually has the ring in his possession.

Judge Mario Mattei dismissed the charges in connection with the assault case in April, on the speedy-trial motion of Montenora’s lawyer, Sal Strazzullo, according to the attorney and court papers. By law, prosecutors are required to bring Class A misdemeanor cases to trial in 90 days, unless the defendant waives that deadline.

Montenora was convicted at a bench trial in Manhattan this past February of second-degree attempted criminal contempt following a separate arrest. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal contempt in connection with the Jan 8. incident, and is awaiting sentencing.

He faces a felony charge, first-degree criminal contempt, in this most recent case, said Peter N. Spencer, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan.

Strazzullo yesterday said Montenora denies driving by the woman’s house.

"He was with his girlfriend at the time. She’s a credible alibi witness," Strazzullo said.

Peter J. Kurshan, who represents the fiancee, declined to comment on the criminal case, and said that his client is "actively and vigorously" pursuing her civil claims against Montenora.